Inauguration bound? Tickets scarce; expect to freeze

Share this:

President Clinton, center podium, delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 42nd president of the United States on Jan. 20, 1993.

President Clinton gives his inaugural speech after being sworn in for his second term by Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist during the 53rd Presidential Inauguration Monday, Jan. 20, 1997, in Washington.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you haven’t yet asked your member of Congress for a ticket to Barack Obama inauguration, forget it. They’re way oversubscribed.

But wait. There will be lots to do in the nation’s capital on Jan. 20 and during inaugural week. So if you are game to come here to be part of this historic swearing in, read on.

When it comes to tickets, all of our House members have more requests than they can fulfill. Rep. John Campbell, for example, who represents one of the most Republican districts in the state, nevertheless has already gotten 1,570 requests. Rep. Loretta Sanchez, the only Democrat in the delegation, has gotten 1,400. And Sen. Dianne Feinstein – who as chair of the inaugural committee will emcee the swearing in — has gotten more than 40,000.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher has cut off requests because he’s gotten more than the 200 or so tickets he’s likely to be allotted. And the Huntington Beach Republican has already promised two premiere – translation seated – tickets to his opponent in the recent election. Rohrabacher said he called Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook and offered them to her.

The official numbers are due out on Monday but I’m told House members will get right around 200 tickets and senators will get only a couple of hundred more. And it’s a bipartisan distribution. Democrats and Republicans will get the same amount.

Once the final number is known the horse trading will begin.

Sanchez told me she’ll start calling in chits from those members she gave tickets to when she and many of her constituents didn’t care to go to the two Bush inaugurals.

Some offices – like Rep. Gary Miller’s – are letting everyone know that tickets will be given out on a first-come first-serve basis. And Miller sent people who asked for tickets a detailed memo about transportation, booking hotel rooms, etc. He got more than 1,000 ticket requests, more than he said he’s ever gotten before.

Of course the Obama folks will get a good share of tickets and if you were a big contributor or even a loyal worker, there’s a chance you could score a ticket through the campaign.

And by the way, don’t be taken in by people trying to sell you swearing in tickets. These are free and not supposed to be sold. And they haven’t even been printed yet. So no one has any. And this week eBay agreed not to allow any ticket sales on its web sites.

Now a few things about what conditions are likely to be.

I think Sanchez’s description says it best:

“You’ll be standing with 238,000 of your favorite people shoulder to shoulder. There are no bathrooms. Expect five hours of cold.”

She’s not kidding. The last two inaugurals it was below freezing and raining. And the lines to get in are long, security is tight and the ceremony itself lasts about an hour. I have two suggestions: layers, lots of them and comfortable shoes. Don’t dress up. Dress warm.

Sanchez said she’s talked to some people who are considering, for example, taking their mothers to the event.

“Watch on TV and we’ll try to get you some ball tickets,” is what Sanchez advises. The ball tickets are usually about $250 per couple. But all of that will be handled by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, which is just being formed.

Historically there have been nine official inaugural balls, combining many states into each one. Those events are packed. But at least they are inside and warm. And if you get there early enough and scope out a seat close to the stage you’ve got a chance to see the new president and first lady who traditionally make an appearance at each ball. And there you can dress up.

But back to the swearing in.

District of Columbia officials are predicting this inaugural could break all records with as many as 1.5 million people lining the streets, on the mall and actually inside the security perimeter leading up to the west front of the Capitol where at the stroke of noon Obama will take the oath as the 44th president of the United States.

Feinstein is heading up the bipartisan committee that’s charged with making sure the inauguration goes off without a hitch. Her staff director, Howard Gantman, told me they are talking with the National Park Service and law enforcement to see if maybe more tickets can be added to the nearly half million already planned. And even if you don’t get a ticket, there will be giant television screens on the mall.

Once the swearing in ends, the parade route down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House will be open.

Sanchez said she is planning a luncheon for Orange County folks and most lawmakers open up their offices on inauguration day, offering a little respite from the biting cold.

Now Rep. Ken Calvert predicted that given the good fortune the Obama campaign had through the election that we could see 75 degree temperatures on Jan. 20th. I wouldn’t plan on it.

Speaking of planning. If you don’t have a flight and hotel room, what are you waiting for?

Be prepared for sticker shock.

Flights on Jet Blue from Long Beach to Dulles, for example, were running about $1,000 round trip, more than twice what it usually costs to make the trip.

And hotel rooms, if you can find one, are also going for at least $400 a night, most with a three to four day minimum.

But you might want to think outside the box when it comes to accommodations. People here are. Check out Craigslist for D.C. and you’ll find a Capitol Hill two-bedroom townhouse for $8,000 for the week boasting only a 10-minute walk to the swearing in. And many more less extravagant deals, some more than 20 miles from downtown D.C.

And if you can’t find a dress someone is selling a never worn Nicole Miller black gown for $150. Someone even put an ad up volunteering to be someone’s “beautiful date” for an inaugural ball.

If you’re planning on being in Washington during inaugural week, drop me a line at dbunis@ocregister.com. I want to hook up with as many O.C. visitors as possible during that historic week. But don’t ask me for any tickets.

I won’t have any.

WHAT YOU SAID

Last week I asked whether you’d like to come here to D.C. to work for Obama. Seventy-five percent said yes. Only 10 percent said they wouldn’t leave California and 16 percent said it would depend on the job.